Fantastic results for the Stortford team at our own Hasler race - despite everyone needing to double up as marshals etc when not actually racing.

The event attracted the biggest field of Lightnings this season, including quite a number from Stortford, several racing for the first time. In total there were 183 kayakers competing - unusually no canadians at all, though few leisure C2s passing through were a bit bemused to find themselves on the start line!

The high temperatures did not stop everyone from giving their best. A total of 12 medals were achieved in the divisional races: one bronze (Malcolm), four silvers (Ricky, Eugene, James S. & Euan) and a whopping seven golds (Kerstin & Jenny, Adam & David, Matt, and Neil & Connor).

The combinations of doubles pairings worked well, and everything came together to deliver a home win. To cap it all off, it has now been announced that Neil and Connor are promoted to Division 5.

Although it was evident, even before this race, that the club's earlier successes in the season (especially the win at Chelmsford Hasler and the second place at Norwich) had secured our place in the Hasler finals, nobody had dared to dream that we would finish at the top of the Eastern Region league - albeit jointly with last year's national champions Chelmsford.

The National Marathon Championships are coming up, and then the National Hasler Finals. It really does feel, as Danny said, that "anything is achievable".

Big thanks are due to the army all the members, family, club members and paddlers from other clubs who turned out to help with all the preparations, and all the work on the day, including starts/finishes, on-water safety, towpath sweepers, turn marshals, catering, entries/results, car park, and a plethora of other jobs.